Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this normal behaviour?

12 replies

Usernumber363726382746322 · 28/12/2024 20:58

Trying to cut a long story short. I never knew my father growing up, raised by my mother but with a huge amount of influence from grandparents as my mother did struggle at times, she did try her best though!

Name changed just because.

I always knew who my father was and his name etc but never had a relationship. It was partly my mum making it extremely difficult for him, I get the impression that perhaps if he wouldn’t take her back he couldn’t see me then also he could have tried harder so fault on both sides. A relative has admitted how my mum and family made it very hard for him to see me but then he should have tried harder.

I am in my thirties, over the last year I’ve realised life is too short and met my bio father for the first time about a year ago. I’ve made it very clear I’m not looking for a father figure but it’s been nice getting to know him and about his family, his wife and kids etc. I just perhaps wanted closure and perhaps to meet new family and discover where I’m from. Too much time has passed to have any kind of father daughter stuff. I don’t see it that way at all, I see him as a new friend more than anything.

I was honest with my mother from the start but I don’t make a huge thing about it. Don’t talk about it unless she asks as don’t want her to feel bad or anything.

for context my mum married when I was a pre teen and had 3 more kids. Still with my stepdad now and much more settled in life than she was in my younger years.

however, this is my concern. She seemed okay about it but then she kept saying she wanted to come with me to meet him - I met him without telling her first as I knew she’d say she would want to come, she’s always questioning me about him, his wife, kids etc, calling his wife names - wife came a few years after I was born so the other woman aspect here. His wife seems nice enough to me.

she then talks about how he hurt and stuff. I get it, he did and I’m not dismissing that however a long time has passed and she seems to be thinking more of her feelings than mine. I just feel like she’s pushed my feelings aside.

she’s now added him as a friend on social media and I just feel a bit icked about it. I feel embarrassed by it. If my stepfather added an ex on Facebook she’d flip - she does have some serious jealously issues. He has his life etc and I don’t feel like she really needs to be involved in this being the grown adult I am?!

I have been nothing but respectful about the whole thing, not mentioning it to my mum unless she asks and definitely not in front of my stepfather as he’s a great man, she also seems to have a massive issue with me potentially building a relationship with half siblings as it’s not fair on my siblings her side but they are young adults and think they are old enough and wise enough to understand the whole family dynamic.

Aibu? I feel like just not bothering with the meet ups with bio father anymore and stopping it all because of the way my mother is acting.

what do I do?

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 28/12/2024 21:00

Do what you want but tell her less.

Fishandchipsareyum · 28/12/2024 21:02

This is between you and your father, she left him? leave her out of this for your own sake. Life is very short, make memories with him while you both can.

Yougetmoreofwhatyoufocuson · 28/12/2024 21:06

You have a right to your own life too. Your mother made her decisions for better or worse, she doesn’t get to have another go now.
If you want to get to know your father and your other half siblings, you go ahead. Tell your mother it’s your business and to keep her beak out. And shut her down whenever she starts.
Your family set up is not unusual at all, there’s no need for all her drama.

GRex · 28/12/2024 21:11

Your mum is being very unreasonable, she's thinking only about herself and not your reasonable right to get to know your father. You should consider telling your father that her contact is not linked to you, and that your preference would be to keep any relationship with him private. It's fine to keep telling her you haven't seen him recently, regardless of contact. Is there anyone who regularly helps her to consider her behaviour? Might it help to sit down with her and your stepfather to discuss her behaviour? Or with an aunt? Or a sibling?

HoundsOfHelfire · 28/12/2024 21:11

Just meet your bio dad as planned and tell your mum that you’re just getting to know your bio dad so will plan to see him alone. Then repeat repeat repeat.

JMSA · 28/12/2024 21:14

She's making it all about her, at a time when she should be supporting you - or at least backing off if she feels unable to support.
She's clearly feeling threatened and her attitude just isn't fair on you.

That said, it's good that you recognise that your father could have tried much, much harder to have you in his life.

Sassybooklover · 28/12/2024 21:37

Your relationship with your Father is absolutely none of your Mum's business. As for wanting to come with you when you meet him - a whopping big fat NO!!! What exactly is she hoping to achieve by coming with you?! I would cease telling her anything at all. If she asks, be vague. You have half-siblings on your Mum's side and now your Father's - you have a right to build a relationship with both sets of half-siblings, if you wish, that's entirely your choice. Your Mum needs to back off completely, as she's overstepping boundaries and is looking a little obsessed!!

GreenFields07 · 02/01/2025 22:45

Stop allowing your mum to cause a further rift between you and your dad. No you absolutely shouldn't just give up on the relationship with him because you're giving her exactly what she wants, and shes being completely unreasonable. Hes your dad, you both deserve to have a relationship with eachother. Do whatever you want to do, its not your mums decision and none of her business.
Shes being ridiculous adding him on social media, shes being ridiculous to want to come and meet him with you.
Keep your relationship with him completely separate and tell her nothing. Just outright tell her to stop asking questions because you will no longer be discussing it with her. Maybe your dad could've done more, but hes trying now. Your mum made it difficult before but its no longer her choice to do that. You should give him a chance or you'll regret it when hes no longer here.

Desmodici · 02/01/2025 23:40

What do you do? You ignore your mother, and, in future, when she asks about him/your relationship with him, you politely tell her that it's really got nothing to do with her, and you'd rather not have her involved. You remind her that she wanted nothing to do with him for all those years, and prevented him from seeing you, and she doesn't have the right to be involved now that you're an adult and are making your own decisions. She absolutely doesn't get to come with you to meet him! Have you asked her why she wants all this involvement?

In all honesty, she's being manipulative and controlling, which are emotionally abusive attributes. She could control the situation when you were young by denying him contact (and if she's the sort of person I suspect she is, I'm not surprised your father gave up - I'm guessing that trying to do battle with her was mentally more than he could take).
Now that you're an adult, and have made the decision to have contact, she trying to monitor the situation. I suspect she's doing it to open the lines of communication for her so that she can meddle more easily, and affect the outcome.
She's already bad-mouthing your dad's wife; already trying to prevent you having a relationship with your new half siblings. (In what way is this unfair on your siblings? It's not. And at any rate, why do your feelings come last?) Both angles make it more difficult to see your dad, without her directly bad-mouthing him. What is she so worried about that she needs to control the situation and manipulate you into not seeing them/him?

I'd suggest going to see a counsellor. I fear my words are a bit harsh (mother similar to yours), and I am making some assumptions by reading between the lines - and a counsellor can help you explore what's going on in a gentler way, and guide you through it positively.
But please, if you want to see your dad and new siblings, don't let her behaviour stop you. Just don't tell her anything about it, anymore, and ask if your father could mind to do the same.

Padz · 03/01/2025 08:19

I was in a similar situation although younger than you, when I turned 16 and left home I contacted my dad and started to get to know him and his family. My mum would constantly ask about him, slag him and his wife off etc, in the end she admitted she still loved him!
I just stopped telling her I’d met up with him, when she asked me about him, I’d tell her I wasn’t prepared to talk about it.
Sadly I only had 8 years with my dad as he passed away suddenly, but I made the right decision for me, it wasn’t about my mum!
Do it for you, not for her. Keep it private. Good luck.

NessaSparkles0 · 03/01/2025 19:02

Why don't u send her a message with all the stuff you've just written on Mumsnet? Not trying to slag your mum off but your instincts are right, she is being selfish, pushing your feelings aside, making everything about her! She sounds very controlling. Good luck hope you find the courage to live your life for u! You only get one xxx

Usernumber363726382746322 · 04/01/2025 17:33

Sorry guys, I totally forgot to reply! Thanks for the replies though.

I don’t talk about it unless she asks. Unfortunately she’s not the easiest person to talk to hence the post on here, not sure where to go from here!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread